B-side "I Refuse" Recorded 1983–1984 Label Elektra 69724 | Format 7" single Length 3:56 | |
Released May 7, 1984 (1984-05-07) | ||
"Magic" is a song performed by the American rock band The Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City, released in 1984. It was released as a single and reached No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. The track was written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange and The Cars. Ocasek sang lead vocals.
Contents
Music video
The music video for "Magic" is set at a pool party attended by an array of bizarre and comically deranged characters. It features Ocasek walking on the water of the swimming pool as the various characters gather to marvel at him. Toward the end of the video, some of the guests (perhaps in their own delusion) attempt to reach Ocasek by stepping onto the pool's surface believing that they too can walk on water, but only end up plunging into the pool. Ocasek remains standing (and dry) because, as the song title suggests, "it's magic".
The Cars shot "Magic" at the Hilton family house in Beverly Hills. Kathy Hilton rented the band her house. A Plexiglass platform sat under the surface of the water. On the first take, the platform collapsed. The platform had to be adjusted to Ric's weight. The house is also the setting for the movie Blind Date starring Bruce Willis & Kim Basinger.